New Delhi: The Government of India has announced its participation in the funeral ceremonies of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which will begin on July 4.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday announced that Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain will travel to Iran on July 3 to represent India at the funeral ceremonies.
"Hasnain and Margherita will visit the Islamic Republic of Iran on July 3 to attend the funeral ceremony of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the late Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the MEA said.
"The high-level representation at the ceremony underscores the importance of the civilisational ties, including people-to-people connections, between the two countries, providing a robust foundation for political and economic engagement," the ministry said in a brief statement.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the funeral. Iran has also invited Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Salman Khurshid and Pawan Khera to the burial ceremonies.
Khamenei, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, was killed on February 28, the first day of massive US and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran.
The funeral programme will begin with a farewell ceremony in Tehran on July 4-5, while the main funeral procession in the Iranian capital is scheduled for July 6, according to Iran's state-run media.
On July 7, ceremonies will be held in the holy city of Qom, while Khamenei's burial in his hometown of Mashhad is scheduled for July 9.
